Improvements
Enhancements Short-term improvements to keep Austin moving. Investments Long-term projects to support our future. Mobility Hubs MetroRapid MetroRail Commuters Connectors Circulators Project Connect Project Connect is the Central Texas high-capacity transit plan that will create real, tangible transit projects that offer an alternative to mindnumbing traffic congestion. It s not about a single train or bus route, but a robust transit system that improves travel into, out of and around Central Austin from the surrounding region. It will provide options that build upon one another and create a system to move more people, more quickly. The end result will connect residents, businesses, schools, services, and shopping through a high-capacity transit network. Capital Metro operates service in order to provide a limited stop service between central Austin and regional communities such as Leander, Round Rock and Manor. Capital Metro currently has 8 routes that utilize highway and tollways in order to provide travel time savings to riders. Many riders access the system by driving to park & rides near regional highways which helps to get cars off the road in the areas with the highest congestion. In order to expand the system, partnerships will need to be created with communities outside of the Capital Metro service area by bringing them into the service area or through the use of transit development plans or coordination with other transportation providers such as CARTS. Key Terms Park & Ride Basic facilities typically designed for transferring from cars to transit
Corridor Introduction How Connects the Region The Austin region is growing tremendously and that growth isn t always within the boundaries of the City of Austin. Capital Metro connects communities surrounding Austin through its service that provides a direct link between regional suburbs to the urban core of Austin and the highest concentration of jobs. Capital Metro currently provides a variety of routes to communities to the Northwest of Austin and the northern extent of Austin all of which lie within the Capital Metro service area. There are many other areas of the region that would like to have that same direct connection, but are located outside of Capital Metro s service area. Through the use of partnerships with other agencies and surrounding communities, Capital Metro can expand the reach of their service to all corners of the region including: Hutto, Georgetown, Bastrop, Lockhart, Buda and Oak Hill. METROEXPRESS COST ESTIMATES Low Investment: 5th/6th Priority Lanes to Express Lanes Enhancement Costs: Regional Enhancement Costs: High Investment: $200,000 $900,000 $15,650,000 $38,600,000 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST: $15,850,000 $39,500,000 To improve the speed and reliability of, Capital Metro coordinates with CTRMA to open express lanes and toll roads to buses in order to zip by traffic. By partnering with the City of Austin, enhancements to 5th/6th St and Cesar Chavez between the Mopac and Republic Square can further improve speed by cutting further through downtown traffic. Through the use of these partnerships and enhancements to existing roadways, Capital Metro can provide a service that creates an alternative to driving in traffic that is fast, reliable and near you. 1
Regional System 2
Proposed Improvements North: Round Rock & Georgetown Project Overview SITE Proposed PLAN Express AND CONCEPT Route The North market consists mainly of N MoPac north of 183, I-35 from SH 45 to Georgetown, and SH 45 from N MoPac to I-35. Much of this market is just beginning to be served by CapMetro through partnerships with the Cities of Round Rock and Georgetown. Currently, 1 route operates in this market serving 2 park & rides at Round Rock Transit Center and Howard Station. There is potential to extend Express service further north from its current endpoint in Round Rock all the way to Georgetown as the partnership grows. Proposed Service Levels Level Type Hours of Operation A All Day 6 a.m. 10 p.m. B Full Peak 6 10 a.m. & 3 a.m. 7 p.m. C Peak Limited 3 trips a.m. & p.m. ENHANCED COST ESTIMATES Level Estimated Capital Cost Estimated O&M Cost A $5.4M for buses $1.8M B $5.4M for buses $0.9M C $2.4M for buses $0.4M Potential Ridership ~2,300/day* *Potential ridership at highest service level 3
Proposed Improvements Northeast: Pflugerville & Hutto Project Overview The Northeast market consists mainly of US 290 to SH 130 and SH 130 to Hutto. CapMetro is currently supporting adoption of Transit Development Plans (TDPs) with the cities of Pflugerville and Hutto similar to the current partnerships with Round Rock and Georgetown. There are no routes that currently tap into this market. There is potential to provide Express service to the communities of Pflugerville and Hutto through the TDPs. Utilizing the SH 130 and Manor Expressway toll roads, CapMetro will be able to bypass traffic, providing service from Hutto all the way to Central Austin. SITE Proposed PLAN Express AND CONCEPT Route Proposed Service Levels Level Type Hours of Operation A All Day 6 a.m. 10 p.m. B Full Peak 6 10 a.m. & 3 7 p.m. C Peak Limited 3 trips a.m. & p.m. ENHANCED COST ESTIMATES Level Estimated Capital Cost Estimated O&M Cost A $4.8M for buses $1.3M B $4.8M for buses $0.7M C $2.4M for buses $0.3M Potential Ridership ~800/day* *Potential ridership at highest service level 4
Proposed Improvements East: Manor & Elgin Project Overview Proposed Express Route The East market consists mainly of US 290 from Downtown Austin to Elgin. CapMetro currently provides service to Manor and service to Elgin through a partnership with CARTS. New buses are coming for this route in order to provide a more comfortable experience for CapMetro s customers. Utilizing the Manor Expressway toll road, CapMetro is able to bypass traffic, providing service from Manor to Central Austin. Proposed Service Levels Level Type Hours of Operation A All Day 6 a.m. 10 p.m. B Full Peak 6 10 a.m. & 3 7 p.m. C Peak Limited 3 trips a.m. & p.m. ENHANCED COST ESTIMATES Level Estimated Capital Cost Estimated O&M Cost A $4.8M for buses $1.7M B $4.8M for buses $0.9M C $2.4M for buses $0.4M Potential Ridership ~750/day* *Potential ridership at highest service level 5
Proposed Improvements Southeast: Del Valle to Bastrop Project Overview The Southeast market consists mainly of SH 71 to Bastrop connecting to Downtown Austin via US 183 and 7th Street. There are no routes that currently tap into this market. There is potential to provide Express service to the communities of Cedar Creek and Bastrop through cooperation with CARTS by upgrading the existing Interurban service to service. Utilizing the SH 71 Express lanes and 183 South toll road, CapMetro will be able to bypass traffic, providing service from Central Austin to Del Valle. SITE PLAN AND CONCEPT Proposed Express Route Proposed Express Route Proposed Service Levels Level Type Hours of Operation A All Day 6 a.m. 10 p.m. B Full Peak 6 10 a.m. & 3 7 p.m. C Peak Limited 3 trips a.m. & p.m. ENHANCED COST ESTIMATES Level Estimated Capital Cost Estimated O&M Cost A $5.4M for buses $1.8M B $5.4M for buses $0.9M C $2.4M for buses $0.4M Potential Ridership ~750/day* *Potential ridership at highest service level 6
Proposed Improvements South: Easton Park & Lockhart Project Overview The South market consists mainly of US 183 to Lockhart connecting to Downtown Austin via 7th Street. There are no routes that currently tap into this market. There is potential to provide Express service by connecting to the growing Easton Park development and Lockhart through cooperation with CARTS by upgrading the existing Interurban service to vehicles. The route would use the US 183 toll road in order to bypass traffic coming into the core. Proposed Express Route Proposed Service Levels Level Type Hours of Operation A All Day 6 a.m. 10 p.m. B Full Peak 6 10 a.m. & 3 7 p.m. C Peak Limited 3 trips a.m. & p.m. ENHANCED COST ESTIMATES Level Estimated Capital Cost Estimated O&M Cost A $6M for buses $1.9M B $6M for buses $1.1M C $3M for buses $0.4M Potential Ridership ~600/day* *Potential ridership at highest service level 7
Proposed Improvements South Central: Buda Project Overview The South Central market consists mainly of I-35 to Buda. CapMetro is currently supporting adoption of a Transit Development Plan (TDP) with Buda similar to the current partnerships with Round Rock and Georgetown. There are no routes that currently tap into this market. There is potential to provide Express service to the community of Buda through the TDP. This service would connect Buda to Southpark Meadows and Downtown Austin. Proposed Express Route Proposed Service Levels Level Type Hours of Operation A All Day 6 a.m. 10 p.m. B Full Peak 6 10 a.m. & 3 7 p.m. C Peak Limited 3 trips a.m. & p.m. ENHANCED COST ESTIMATES Level Estimated Capital Cost Estimated O&M Cost A $4.2M for buses $1.5M B $4.2M for buses $1.4M C $1.8M for buses $0.3M Potential Ridership ~350/day* *Potential ridership at highest service level 8
Proposed Improvements Southwest: Circle C and Oak Hill Project Overview The Southwest market consists mainly of US 290 to Oak Hill and S Mopac to Circle C. There are no routes that currently tap into this market. There are some MetroFlyer routes that reach these two areas but they do not operate as directly as Express routes. Upon completion of the S Mopac Express Lanes and Oak Hill Parkway Projects by CTRMA, CapMetro would be able to provide new service that will bypass traffic, utilizing the express lanes and toll roads from Oak Hill and Circle C all the way to Downtown Austin. SITE PLAN AND CONCEPT Proposed Express Route Proposed Service Levels Level Type Hours of Operation A All Day 6 a.m. 10 p.m. B Full Peak 6 10 a.m. & 3 7 p.m. C Peak Limited 3 trips a.m. & p.m. ENHANCED COST ESTIMATES Level Estimated Capital Cost Estimated O&M Cost A $3M for buses $1M B $3M for buses $0.7M C $1.8M for buses $0.2M Potential Ridership ~750/day* *Potential ridership at highest service level 9
Additional Information Led by Capital Metro with support from the City of Austin. Want to learn more? Go to www.projectconnect.com to read more about the work we re doing through Project Connect. Tell us what you think, take the Phase 2 Survey! https://www.capmetroengage.org/en/provide-input Additional Project Connect briefing books: High Capacity Transit 101 briefing book Investments program briefing book and project flip books Enhancement program briefing book and project flip books Project Connect Funding and Financing briefing book
Led by Capital Metro with support from the City of Austin. Prepared by AECOM, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, and Alliance Transportation Group with support from Bronner Group and Robin O Connell Design